Right out of the box, let it be shared
that I enjoyed reading Pete Rose’s “My
Prison Without Bars.” For this reader, it was the type of book that
you did not want to put down and one that you made the time to read – as
opposed to the type of book where you do not rush to pick it up again, if you
did put it down.

However, to be fair, the book has
some obvious flaws.

First, Rose and co-author Rick Hill
go overboard with the usage of exclamation points as punctuation in the book.
We know that Pete is an excitable guy. Still, there was no need to have a
“!” at the end of what seemed like every 20th sentence.
Also, there is an obvious superfluity in the usage of the terms (such as)
“sumbitch” and “reckon” in the book. Even if Rose uses those terms
freely in real life, they could have been reduced a bit in the book.
Overkill with these terms somewhat defeats the attempt to transport the sense that you
are “speaking with Pete” in reading this book - by flooding the
terms, the
“voice of Rose” in “My Prison Without Bars,” to an extent, is a tad
forced. (But, then again, this is often the case in a “sports – as told to” type
book.)

There were other editing issues with
the book. On page 2 of the book, it refers to the 2002 World Series when
the correct series in mention was 1999. On page 68 of the book, it refers
to “Rico Cardi” instead of “Rico Carty.” On page 269 of the book,
it states that Nolan Ryan and George Brett were inducted into the Cooperstown
Hall of Fame in 1995 – but, they were actually inducted in 1999. Also,
on page 282 of the book, it refers to Shane Spencer incorrectly – where it
should refer to Chad Curtis instead. To many the diehard baseball fan,
these types of errors are incommodious. (The publisher, Rodale, should
think twice on their choice of editor for the next baseball book.)

Also, missing from the book was any
significant mention of Rose’s time as a Montreal Expos player in 1984.
The reader who was not aware of Rose’s full history, in reading the book, may
make the assumption that Rose only played for the Reds and Phillies during his
career. But, since Rose only played in Montreal for part of the 1984
season, this is, in reality, just a small amount of time not included, in
detail, in the book.

These were the minor negatives from
this reader’s experience. On the positive side, “My Prison Without
Bars” was not just the story of Rose’s banishment from baseball and the
subsequent events to follow. It is the entire story of his life – from
childhood, to being a professional player, to being the Reds manager, to his
life after baseball (and his attempts to get back into baseball). But, the
book is not exclusively about baseball – it details Rose’s other
relationships (friends, spouses, girlfriends, children, business partners, other
family) as well, and, in candor (where Rose is upfront and shares the details
of his mistakes, transgressions and failures in many of these relationships).
This full scope exposé is unique for a sports related book – even for those
that claim to be all inclusive (as they rarely turn out to be “all
telling”).

Quickly, the book reveals Rose’s
battle with “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” (ADHD) and
“Oppositional-Defiant Behavior” (ODB). This is a superior disclosure –
as it helps provide the foundation needed to understand why Rose was “the way
he was” in many past situations – including, and perhaps most important, his
flunking out of High School at an early age. Unlike the line from Paul Simon’s
“Kodachrome,” Pete Rose’s lack of education sure did hurt him some –
as even Rose laments (on page 300) with “But if I had everything to do over
again, I’d further my education. If I had gone to college, I don’t think
everything would have turned out the way it did, with gambling and such.”

Indeed, in reading the book, it is
clear that Rose’s behavior is the product of both his genetic background and
his environment (as they are chronicled in the book). Perhaps if one of
the two had been different, it would have offset the other. But, with the
two being what they were, it is no surprise that Rose behaved the way that he
did and found himself in the situation in which he fell. As a result of
the great specificity in this book, deductions such as this are clearly the low
resting fruit ripe and ready for the reader to harvest. (And, in case one
was to miss these “quick-grab” findings, there are sufficient opinions
shared in the book, offered by trained professionals, on the cause of Rose’s
behavior. For example, there are repeated diagnostic mentions of
“craving risk” and “sensation seeking” as causes of Rose’s actions,
etc.)

The deeper you get into “My Prison
Without Bars,” the more and more evident it becomes that Pete Rose was a
“gambling” train wreck just waiting to happen.

“My Prison Without Bars” is
packed with in-depth and revealing passages on the hot issues currently
surrounding Rose. Rose’s relationships with the infamous parties such as
Mike Bertolini, Tommy Gioiosa, Paul Janszen and Ron Peters are all
comprehensively divulged – start to finish – in this book. This
includes the “ins and outs” of how Rose placed his bets with bookmakers
(including the use of “runners.”) The chapters on Rose’s time in prison
for his troubles with the IRS, and the time spent thereafter in a halfway house
were also very explicit and illuminating.

“My Prison Without Bars” also
contains first-rate chapters not related to the “today” news on Rose
(ranging from both baseball star stories to old gambling probe related).
For example, the chapter on Rose’s 1967 goodwill tour to the troops in
Vietnam, shared with Joe DiMaggio, was very moving and educational on many
levels. Also, the disclosure by Rose (in another chapter) that baseball
commissioner Bowie Kuhn, in the early 1970’s, had hired Henry Fitzgibbon to
investigate and provide counseling to Pete on his “problem gambling” was
interesting – especially as the findings then were that there was no evidence
(again, then) that he was a problem gambler. (Talk about a swing and a miss!)

Another effortless conclusion, in
reading this book, is the probability (albeit good or bad for Rose in the
future) that Pete will forever be drawn to betting on horse racing. There
is a chapter where Rose describes his first time to the track (at around age 6)
– with his father (Pete Sr.), Dud Zimmer (yes, Don’s father), and Eddie Brinkman Sr.
(yes, the old Tiger shortstop’s father). Other chapters have more focus on
Rose at the horse track and his love of being there. These sections
markedly convey the passion that Pete Rose has for horse racing. This obsession
straightforwardly is seen as second only to his zeal for
baseball. And, just as “My Prison Without Bars” is overt testament to
Rose’s despondency as a result of being banned from baseball, to this reader,
it is also a suppressed verification that giving up horse racing, voluntarily, would be very nearly impossible for Rose.

This conclusion on Rose and horse
racing should not be confused with a condemnation. If you read the book
and fully absorb the passages on horse racing, the “why” on Rose could
never give up “the ponies” becomes more of an understanding item and much
less of a disapproval point.

In fact, gaining an
“understanding” is perhaps the main reason why baseball fans should read
this book. Everyone has heard the “Pete Rose story” – from the
angles of the newspaper, radio and TV/cable reporters, from the angles of Major
League Baseball and their agents, and from numerous other angles - - with the
exception of the full story from Pete Rose (with his angle). Truth be
told, anyone who has an opinion on Rose and his situation owes it to themselves
to read “My Prison Without Bars” in order to ascertain whether or not their
opinion is correct. Does it not make sense to hear the whole case
– from all sides – before passing judgment?

Lastly, many who have not read “My
Prison Without Bars” have questioned whether or not Pete Rose was
contrite (in the book) for having bet on baseball. They should read the book.
There are passages which carry Rose’s remorse (or regret or shame).

However, there is also a feeling here that “My Prison Without Bars” does not
aim to serve as the good ship repentance. More so, to this reader, it
appears that the book is an attempt by Rose to share his side of the story with
the hope that it allows everyone, including him, (as he states on page 320) to
“just move on.” Whether you forgive him or not after reading the
book – that’s fine to Rose. It genuinely seems that all Pete Rose
wants is a chance to tell his story and move on in his life.

Therefore, if you are only looking for
Pete Rose to spectacularly throw himself on his sword with the release of “My
Prison Without Bars,” and beg for clemency, maybe you should pass on the book.
On the contrary,
if you are looking for a good read on the life story of a baseball star who had
it all and threw it all away – with an account on his entire life, on and off the field; and, for the
background on one of the biggest stories in
the history of baseball from a personal perspective, then you owe it to yourself to read “My
Prison Without Bars” (according to the scrawling on this scorecard).

Steve Lombardi is the Creator
& Curator of NetShrine.com. Scrawling On The Scorecard appears regularly
during the baseball season and sporadically during the off-season. Steve
can be contacted at sots@netshrine.com